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# The Everyday Jersey
### A Boxy Drop-Shoulder Pullover (Beginner)

A relaxed, cozy worsted-weight pullover with a classic boatneck and long sleeves. This is one of the easiest sweaters you can knit — the body is just two rectangles, and the sleeves are picked up and knit straight down. No complicated shaping!

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## SIZES
S (M, L, XL, 2XL)

**Finished Chest:** 40 (44, 48, 52, 56)" / 101.5 (112, 122, 132, 142) cm
**Intended Ease:** ~4–8" positive ease (boxy fit). Choose the size closest to your actual chest measurement + 6".
**Finished Length:** 24 (25, 26, 27, 28)" / 61 (63.5, 66, 68.5, 71) cm

> Sample shown in Size M.

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## MATERIALS
- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Medium / #4). Approx. 1000 (1150, 1300, 1450, 1600) yds / 915 (1050, 1190, 1325, 1465) m.
- **Needles:**
  - US 8 / 5 mm — main body and sleeves
  - US 6 / 4 mm — ribbing (hem, cuffs, neckband)
  - Use straight, circular, or double-pointed needles as preferred.
- **Notions:** Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn.

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## GAUGE
**18 sts × 24 rows = 4" (10 cm)** in Stockinette stitch on US 8 / 5 mm needles, blocked.
*Take time to check your gauge — it determines your final size.*

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## ABBREVIATIONS
- **k** = knit
- **p** = purl
- **CO** = cast on
- **BO** = bind off
- **RS** = right side
- **WS** = wrong side
- **st(s)** = stitch(es)
- **k2tog** = knit 2 together
- **PU** = pick up and knit

**Ribbing (k1, p1):** *K1, p1; repeat from * across.

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## PATTERN NOTES
- The **Back** and **Front** are identical plain rectangles — no armhole shaping.
- The **boatneck** requires NO neck shaping: you simply leave the center stitches open when seaming the shoulders.
- **Sleeves** are picked up along the straight side edge and worked down to the cuff, so there are no sleeve caps to set in.
- Slip the first stitch of every row for a tidy edge (optional but recommended for easier seaming).

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## BACK

With **US 6 / 4 mm** needles, CO **90 (99, 108, 117, 126) sts.**

**Ribbing:** Work in k1, p1 rib for **2" (5 cm).**
*(Note: With an odd stitch count in sizes M/XL, begin and end rib rows with k1 so edges match — i.e., k1, p1 across ending k1.)*

Change to **US 8 / 5 mm** needles.

Work in Stockinette st (k on RS, p on WS) until piece measures **24 (25, 26, 27, 28)"** from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

**BO all 90 (99, 108, 117, 126) sts.**

✅ *Math check: 90 sts ÷ 18 sts per 4" × 4 = 20" wide. Two pieces = 40" chest (Size S). ✓*

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## FRONT

Work **exactly the same as the Back**, including length. For the boatneck, no neck shaping is needed.

**BO all 90 (99, 108, 117, 126) sts.**

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## JOIN SHOULDERS (Boatneck)

Lay the Front and Back together with RS facing each other (or RS out for mattress seaming).

You will seam the **outer shoulder stitches** on each side and leave the **center stitches open** for the neck.

- **Shoulder seam width (each side):** 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) sts
- **Center neck opening (leave unseamed):** 54 (59, 64, 69, 74) sts

**To join:** Seam the right shoulder across the first 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) sts using mattress stitch (or a 3-needle bind-off). Leave the center 54 (59, 64, 69, 74) sts open. Seam the left shoulder across the final 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) sts.

✅ *Math check: 18 + 54 + 18 = 90 (Size S). ✓ Neck opening = 54 sts ÷ 18 × 4 = 12" wide — comfortably fits over the head. ✓*

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## SLEEVES (Make 2)

Sleeves are worked from the top down. First, mark the armhole depth.

**Mark the armhole:** Measure down **8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)"** from the shoulder seam along the side edge, on both the Front and Back. Place a marker at each point. The distance between markers (front + back) is your armhole edge, **16 (17, 18, 19, 20)"** total.

With RS facing and **US 8 / 5 mm** needles, beginning at one marker, **PU 72 (76, 82, 86, 90) sts** evenly along the armhole edge to the marker on the other side.

✅ *Pick-up check: 72 sts ÷ 18 × 4 = 16" — matches the 16" armhole edge for Size S. ✓ (Pick up roughly 3 sts for every 4 rows.)*

Working in Stockinette st (join to work in the round OR work flat and seam later — your choice), work **2 rows/rounds** even.

**Shape sleeve (decrease):**
Decrease Row: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. *(2 sts decreased)*
Repeat the Decrease Row every **6th (6th, 6th, 4th, 4th) row** a total of **14 (15, 17, 18, 19)** times.

**Sleeve sts remaining:** 44 (46, 48, 50, 52) sts.

Continue even until sleeve measures **15 (15.5, 16, 16.5, 17)"** from pick-up edge, or **2" less than desired length**, ending ready for the cuff.

**Cuff:** Change to **US 6 / 4 mm** needles. Work in k1, p1 rib for **2" (5 cm).** BO loosely in rib.

*(Note: For even ribbing on the odd-count sizes, decrease 0–1 st on the first cuff row to reach a workable number if you prefer — this is optional and won't affect fit.)*

Repeat for the second sleeve.

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## NECKBAND (Boatneck Finish)

With **US 6 / 4 mm** needles and RS facing, beginning at a shoulder seam, PU sts evenly all the way around the neck opening (front and back). Aim for approximately **110 (120, 130, 140, 150) sts** — pick up roughly 1 st per bound-off st and about 3 sts per 4 rows along the short shoulder edges. An even number is helpful for ribbing.

Join to work in the round. Work in k1, p1 rib for **1" (2.5 cm).**

**BO loosely in rib.** A loose bind-off keeps the boatneck stretchy and comfortable.

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## FINISHING

1. If you knit the sleeves flat, seam each sleeve underarm seam.
2. Seam the side/underarm body seams: from the sleeve cuff, down the underarm, and along the body side down to the hem. Use mattress stitch for an invisible join.
3. Weave in all ends.
4. **Block** the finished sweater to the measurements above. Blocking evens out your stitches and gives the fabric a professional drape.

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## FINISHED MEASUREMENTS SUMMARY

| Measurement | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | 40" | 44" | 48" | 52" | 56" |
| Length | 24" | 25" | 26" | 27" | 28" |
| Armhole depth | 8" | 8.5" | 9" | 9.5" | 10" |
| Upper sleeve | 16" | 17" | 18" | 19" | 20" |
| Cuff width | ~9.8" | ~10.2" | ~10.7" | ~11.1" | ~11.6" |
| Neck opening | 12" | 13.1" | 14.2" | 15.3" | 16.4" |

Enjoy your new everyday jersey! 🧶